Solano led all players with 38 points on the night to go along with 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Sophomore JT Strickland (Laurel, Md.) contributed 19 points, three assists, and three rebounds. Sophomore Troy Hammel (Valencia, Calif.) finished the game with 11 points while senior Kevin Regan (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Marcus Swedberg (Moultonborough, N.H.) added eight and four points, respectively.

LIU Post opened the game on a 4-0 run, after back-to-back baskets from Tyuan Williams and P.J. Torres. After a made trey from Solano, Merrimack was able to take its first lead of the game, 7-6, with 16:22 left to play in the half. With the score tied at 7-all, Merrimack managed to go on an 8-2 run to take its biggest lead of the half with six points (15-9).

After a made layup from Torres, the Pioneers were able to take a one point (16-15) lead, but Merrimack answered back tying the game at 19-all with 10:19 left to play in the first. In the final five minutes, the Pioneers finished the half on a 14-5 run to bring the score to 48-36.

Solano paced the Warriors at intermission with 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Strickland added nine points, while Regan chipped in with six. The Warriors were plagued by turnovers with seven giveaways in the first half.

After the Pioneers opened the second half on a 7-2 run, Hammel knocked down a triple with 16:36 remaining in regulation to close the gap to 10 points, 59-49. Merrimack came together and cut the Pioneers lead to five (70-64) with 9:39 left, but Merrimack was unable to capitalize on the home teams eight turnovers.

LIU Post held onto a lead of 15 or more points throughout the rest of the second half and earned its ninth win of the season. Six Pioneers finished in double figures while P.J. Torres finished the afternoon with a team-high 25 points and seven rebounds.

A Closer Look

Overall, the Warriors shot 35.5 percent (27-of-76) from the floor, compared to a marginally better 52.7 percent (39-of-74) from the home team.

The Warriors went 10-of-27 from long range and LIU Post went 16-of-25 from the line.

LIU Post won the rebounding battle, 50-42, while both teams registered 13 turnovers on the afternoon.

Merrimack posted 19 points off turnovers and 72 on court points.

What They Said

"They are a very good team who executed on both ends of the floor," head coach Bert Hammel said afterward. "We did not come out and play the way we needed to tonight."

Up Next Next up, the Warriors return to action on Sunday, Jan. 5 when they travel to Oakdale, N.Y. to take on Dowling College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.